NEWS ARCHIVE

3 dead, 2 injured when pickup slams into Wal-Mart

The Iowa State Patrol said three people were killed and two others injured Thursday when a pickup truck slammed into the front door of a Walmart store

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 2:56 PM CST Dec 1, 2016

3 dead, 2 injured when pickup slams into Wal-Mart

The Iowa State Patrol said three people were killed and two others injured Thursday when a pickup truck slammed into the front door of a Walmart store

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 2:56 PM CST Dec 1, 2016

PELLA, Iowa —

The Iowa State Patrol said three people were killed and two others injured Thursday when a pickup truck slammed into the front door of a Wal-Mart store.

The patrol said one of the injured people is the driver of the pickup truck, a silver Ford F-150, which slammed through the front doors and stopped at the fresh produce section of the store.

Advertisement

Rescue crews in Pella were called at 9:54 a.m. to the Wal-Mart on 1650 Washington St. Witnesses told radio station KNIA/KRLS that a truck went through the front door at full speed.

"At this time, we don't have any reason to believe it was intentional," said Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig, who was at the scene of the crash. Ludwig said officials are investigating all possible scenarios.

The crash killed three people — all outside the vehicle — and injured the driver and another person, Ludwig said. None of those killed or injured were children.

KNIA/KRLS

Wal-Mart management said in a statement, "We're heartbroken by what appears to be a tragic accident."

Authorities had not released the identities of those involved by early Thursday afternoon as officials worked to inform family members of the casualties. Ludwig said he did not have the medical conditions of those hurt.

Authorities from Pella Fire, Pella Police and Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies were at the scene.

Pella — a city of 10,000 known for its Dutch roots and fully functional 1850s-style windmill — is 38 miles southeast of Des Moines.